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Peterson Camp caps summer of goalie development in Minnesota

08/09/2017, 10:30am EDT

By Jayson Hron

Fifty of Minnesota’s top high school-aged goaltenders, including eight boys and girls who were selected to participate at USA Hockey’s 2017 National Player Development Camps, arrived Thursday at St. Cloud State University’s Herb Brooks National Hockey Center for the 13th annual Minnesota Hockey Dave Peterson Goalie Camp.

Steve Carroll, a goalie development coordinator for Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey, led the four-day program, which aims to improve individual skills, techniques, confidence and consistency among goaltenders between the ages of 15 and 18. In addition to extensive on-ice training, camp attendees also receive thorough off-ice guidance in performance and vision training, nutrition, goalie yoga and hockey opportunities beyond high school, making it a comprehensive learning environment.

“Minnesota Hockey continues finding ways to give its athletes the best possible development environment, and it was fun to be part of that process this year,” said Osaer. “Only 50 goalies are selected, so it’s a high-performance group, and the coaches create a fun, productive learning environment for them.”

Chanhassen’s Olivia Rinzel was among the attendees, and she echoed Osaer’s observations about fun. In fact, it was the first adjective she used to describe the camp, which was the second of two major goaltending development events on her calendar this summer, a slate otherwise filled with tennis, off-ice training and juggling for relaxation – objects in this case, not schedules.

“I loved the energy at the Peterson Camp,” she said. “It was a good learning opportunity. Being able to watch the other goalies, see what they do, talk to them and the coaches – it was really motivating.”

Earlier this summer, Rinzel shined at USA Hockey’s Girls 15 National Player Development Camp, stopping all 25 shots she faced during the five-day event.

“I loved that camp,” she said. “It was one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life. I learned so much, and I came home with a notebook full of information I can keep working on and bring into my high school season.”

It was Rinzel’s first opportunity to wear a USA jersey and she’s determined not to let it be her last.

“It was so cool; I just felt grateful,” she said. “And I know that I have to keep working even harder to get that opportunity again.”